Seat construction



April 3,4 1928.

C. E. STEVENS SEAT CQNSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 14, 1927 ,E11/aufm@ PatentedApr. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE E. STEVENS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, kASSIGNOR TO WHITE SEWINGMACHINE CORPORATION, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SEAT CONSTRUCTION.

This invention relates to a seat structure and finds special utility inschool room seats though it may be used to advantage in seats for otherpurposes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improvedswivel support for the seat on the post which isl adapted to support it,the particular object in this connection being to provide a swivelconnection between the seat and post composed of parts which have greatdurability and are inexpensive to construct and assemble.

The above objects are attained very effectively by my invention whichmay be here briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details ofconstruction, and combinations and arrangements of parts which will f bedescribed in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

, In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 is a` side view of aseat and desk unit, the seat portion of which embodies my invention;Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale showing thesupport and swivel connection for the seat embodying the invention; Fig.3 is a top plan view of the seat supporting and swivelling parts whichlie directly beneath the seat; and Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional viewsubstantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. v

In Fig. 1, the seat 10 is a part of a unit which includes also the desk11, the seat and desk being joined by a U-shaped tubular member 12 withupst-anding ends which receive, respectively, a seat supporting post 13and a desk supporting post 14, which posts slidingly engage the ends ofthe tube and are adapted to be held at any desired height and elevationtherein. The lower and horizontal portion of the tube is held slightlyabove the floor level by legs 15 and 16, which are secured to the upperportions of the tube and project laterally therefrom. It should be herestated that my invention is not confined to a seat and desk unit but maybe employed equally well in a seat formed as a separate unit.

Taking up next the details of the swivel supporting connection betweenthe seat 10 and post 13, there is provided at the top of post 13 alaterally projecting hardened disk 17 which is fixed to the postpreferably by providing at the center of the disk a tubular boss orbushing 17a which is fitted over the 'end ofthe post and is securedthereto in .any .suitable way, as by a pin19, by welding, or otherwise.The plane of the disk 17 is preferably slightly inclined with respect tothe aXis .of post 13so as to coincide with the inclination of the seat10.

- 17L ofthe disk projects. The weight of the occupant of seat 10 istransmitted .tothe upper end of the post 13 and the disk 17 and toprevent undue wearbetween theseparts, there is interposed above the post13and. disk 17 a hardened wear 'resisting disk 22, this beingimmediately beneath the seat 10 as illustrated in Fig.

It will be observed that the disk 17 is provided with corrugations 17hso as to reduce the wear resisting surface between the disk 17 and thedisk 22 and also' between the disk 17 and the offset portionv 20b oftheplate 20. Likewise, it will be observed by reference particularly toFig. 3 that the peripheral portion of the disk 17 is notched out leavingradially disposed lugs 17 c which, in this instance, are three in numberand are equally spaced. Two of these lugs 17c act as stops to limit theswinging movement of the seat in both directions and in order that theymay serve this purpose, there is struck up from the offset portion 20bof plate 20 a lug 2()c (note Figs. 2 and 3). While two of the lugs 17care all that are required to limit the swivelling movement of the seat,nevertheless the third lug is preferably employed as it provides abalanced construction especially useful when the weight of the occupantis shifted to different portions of the seat and furthermore it centersthe seat upon the post.

It will be observed that disk 22 is bowed, being curved down so as toengage the corrugations on disk 17. This at all times causes afrietional resistance to the turning movement of the seat in eitherdirection from its central position, thus reducing the ktheloceupant onit are amply supported at the top of' .the post regardless of whetherthe weight of theoecupant is `thrown forwarder back against the bachrest of the seat and the -occupant may turn vthe @seat regardless of hisposition on the seat and without causing any `material wear on`theengaging' parts,

In addition to the above, l have provided ,i ,H.-- A4 A f va veryeifective means tor holding the seat in various positions of adjustmentand for `permitting' easy `adjustment of the height of 4the seat. This.consists of a dog 23 pivotally supported by a. screw 24 between a pairo' laterally projecting ears Q5 of a sleeve or collar 25 which is littedonto the end of the tube l2. The inneredge of this dog engages in aspline groove .13a of post 13 and'this portion of the dog is providedwith the equivalent of teeth which are adapted to engage the back'wallof the groove, as-illustrated in Fig. 2. Furthermore, the groove:engaging portion of the dog is somewhat camshaped so that by liftingthe outer end of the dog, the post 13 will be released from the tubeallowing the post to be moved up or down. Furthermore, the dog is soshaped that when it is released, it -will swing by gravity into lockingengagement with -the post'so as to grip it, the whole being soconstructed that the weight of the `seat and of the yoccupant on it hasatendency to increase the gripping engagement between the .dog and postso as to prevent accidental or unintentional loweringfof the seat.

claim:

l. "In aswivelled seat or chair construction,

. a seat, a supporting `post having at the top a circularly corrugatedflange, and a plate secured to the lower side of the seat and having anoffset portion extending beneath said flange.

2. In a swivelled seat or chair construction, a seat, a supporting `posthaving at the top a circular-ly corrugated flange, a plate secured tothe lower side of the seat and having an offset portion ,extendingbeneath said flange, and wearresistingplate between the seat and saidflange .and top -of the post.

3. Ina swivelled seat or chair construction, -a seat, a supporting posthaving at the top a laterally projecting flange, a plate having anoffset portion and extending under .the iange, l

and afbowed wea-r resisting plate lying within the `offset portiono'fsaid first-mentioned plate between the seat and the flange and top ofthe post.

'roV

4. In a swivelled seator chair construction,

a seat, a supporting post having at the topa supporting flange which yiscorrugated and has peripheral lugs, a plate secured to the lower side.of the seat and having an offset portion ,extending under said flange,said .plate having a stop shoulder adapted to be engaged by .two of,said lugs to limit they swivelling movement :of the seat, and a freewear resisting disk in said offset portion of the .plate engaging theunderside of the seat and also ithe top of the post and the flange.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature.

' CLARENCE E. STEVENS.

